Grand Valley Lanthorn vol. 55 no. 13

Setting Up A Fiscal Future

G R A N D VA L L E Y L A N T H O R N

GV approves 2020-21 budget, various departments see changes

GV announces Veteran Promise, guarantees admission to enlisted 2021 Michigan high school MILITARY graduates

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Species Stronghold: Reptile Conservation in Michigan ENVIRONMENT | A10

M O N D A Y, N OV E M B E R 1 6 , 2 02 0 // VO L . 5 5 N O. 1 3

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LANTHORN.COM

A2 | NEWS NEWS BRIEFS

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

MILITARY

GV COVID-19 CAMPUS DATA UPDATE

Since GVSU began conducting random testing on campus Aug. 27, the cumulative total COVID-19 cases since Aug. 1 is 1,456.

The university’s update of data used for this brief was from Friday, Nov. 13.

Through testing results this past week, GVSU’s Virus Action team have so far reported 303 current active cases including 7 faculty member cases, 15 staff members, 55 on-campus students, 108 “off-campus Ottawa” students, and 100 “off-campus Kent” students, 18 “off-campus other” students with active COVID-19 cases.

“Current active cases” is the count of positive cases reported to the Virus Action Team over the past ten days. This is an estimate of those currently in isolation, assuming a ten-day symptomatic period following the reporting of a positive test result. Actual periods of isolation are specific to the individual and determined by the county health department.

Testing and Incidence: GVSU’s own testing program has performed 24,685 tests overall since August 21, for a positivity rate of 1.08% from the latest update as of the last week.

GV ADMISSIONS CREATES REFERRAL PROGRAM TO FOSTER STUDENT SUCCESS

It’s no secret that word of mouth is the best advertising. Grand Valley State University’s Admissions office has taken that concept a step further into a new referral program designed to introduce prospective students to the university.

“Be a Laker, Bring a Laker” gives current students, faculty and staff members and alumni the tools they need to recruit students to GVSU. Two information sessions on Nov. 18-19 are scheduled for participants to learn more about the program and have an opportunity to win prizes. Each Zoom session will last about 30 minutes.

Jodi Chycinski, Associate Vice President and Director of Admissions, said it’s a formal referral program that involves all parties.

“The program allows faculty, staff, students and alumni to notify Admissions of their recruitment work,” Chycinski said.

“Doing that step will allow Admissions to share resources and support the efforts of the recruiter.”

GV PROFESSOR PERSONALIZES ONLINE TEACHING FOR STUDENTS

Michael Scantlebury makes a point to start his Hospitality and Tourism Management classes with music – anything from world music to pop. That custom has continued this semester with his online classes.

Scantlebury and fellow faculty members have found myriad ways to optimize the learning experience and connection to students as they conduct classes virtually.

GVNext will be showcasing their stories.

STUDIES: Enlisted Michigan high school graduates will have a home at GVSU after risking their lives to serve their country. COURTESY | SARAH ANDERSON

GV announces Veteran Promise, guarantees admission to enlisted 2021 Michigan high school graduates

BY KELLEN VOSS ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Grand Valley State University President Philomena Mantella announced an initiative that guarantees admission to GVSU for enlisted 2021 Michigan high school graduates.

The GVSU Veteran Promise guarantees that all 2021 Michigan high school graduates — public or private — who have signed enlistment papers to serve in the U.S. military for at least two years are reserved a spot at GVSU upon exit of their service. There will also be options available for veterans to begin taking GVSU classes online during their active duty years.

Mantella announced the initiative during the GVSU President’s Annual Veterans Day Breakfast, held over Zoom Wednesday. She said the GVSU Veteran Promise is another way to build on the university’s consistent commitment to veterans.

“We are blessed that our veterans, who put service to country above all else, bring that commitment home as service to their communities,” Mantella said. “Some veterans face unique challenges transitioning to civilian life. Offering guaranteed admission to 2021 Michigan high school graduates to attend GVSU eliminates the worry about being accepted to college.”

Complementary of veterans at the

breakfast, Mantella cited the military training, character and dedication student veterans bring to campus as a way to provide new opportunities for classroom discussions, campus diversity and access to a pool of talented, multi-faceted students.

“As a university, we are committed to removing barriers to enrollment for a wide variety of populations and our veterans are no different,” Mantella said. “I’m proud that Grand Valley will support this generation of veterans.”

Mantella said she has prioritized student veterans in her time at GVSU, as last year, she strengthened support for more than 300 student veterans by creating a position for a military and veteran resource manager. That position was filled in July by Jill Wolfe, an Army veteran and GVSU alumna.

GVSU has earned national recognition in recent years for their veteran support.

The school was listed as a Best for Veterans among Midwest universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Colleges rankings, and was named a gold level, “military friendly” university by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency for the fifth year.

The keynote speaker at the breakfast was Jared Lyon, National President & CEO of Student Veterans of America and U.S. Navy veteran.

Lyon said nearly 200,000 service members become veterans each year, and more

than 57% of those veterans are in a college classroom within seven months of separation from the military, with the majority of those returning to their home state for college.

“With this first-of-its-kind Veteran Promise, Grand Valley State will ensure student veterans are valued, welcomed and supported from the moment they step on campus,” Lyon said. “We congratulate GVSU on this unique commitment to veteran inclusivity that begins for future service members as soon as they graduate from high school.”

GVSU student veteran Cameron Zbikowski, president of Laker Vets, said President Mantella’s Veteran Promise is another great example of the investment GVSU has made in supporting military and veteran-affiliated students.

“Laker veterans are leaders and innovators in spreading the Laker Effect through study abroad, national conferences, entrepreneurship labs and fellowship programs,” Zbikowski said. “I am exceptionally proud to be a Laker Vet and I look forward to continuing a robust partnership with Jared Lyon and our national headquarters in Washington D.C.” For more information about the GVSU Veteran Promise, visit www.gvsu.edu/vetpromise. Those looking to learn more about the Student Veterans Network can find more information at www.gvsu.edu/veterans.

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

CONTENTS MILITARY

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EDITORIAL

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PANDEMIC

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BUDGET

| A6&7

ELECTION

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WRITING

| A9

ENVIRONMENT

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SOCCER

| A11

BASKETBALL

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VOL. 55

NO. 13

Lan thorn EDITORIAL STAFF

Layout Editor VIVIANA RUBIO

Editor-in-Chief NICK MORAN Associate Editor KELLEN VOSS

Layout Designer KHOI TRAN PROMOTIONS

Associate Editor XAVIER GOLDEN News Editor OLIVIA FELLOWS Sports Editor ZACK GOODROW Laker Life Editor YSABELA GOLDEN

Promotions Manager ALEX DAGOSTINO ADVERTISING STAFF Advertising Manager SHANE MCATAMNEY BUSINESS STAFF

A&E Editor MARY RACETTE Image Editor MEGHAN LANDGREN

A3 | NEWS EDUCATION

8th annual GV Teach-In goes virtual

BY JACOB DEWEERD NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Grand Valley State University’s TeachIn, which has been held annually for the last eight years, shifted to an online format through Whova and Zoom for the first time this year. While the in-person meetings were scrapped, the engagement, vital information, and broad topic variety of the Teach-In were all just as present as they have been in years past.

Each yearly Teach-In covers a wide range of topics that cover social issues and other timely matters, and most presentations have a few presenters providing unique viewpoints and specialized examples for each topic. Presenters are typically a mix of faculty, staff, and graduate students. Some of this year’s presentations were focused on things like the Namibian genocide, consent education, cultural competence in healthcare, and white privilege.

Brittany Bahl, a graduate student who presented ‘Thinking Critically about Racism in the U.S: Strategies for Justice and Equity’ with Professors Anthony Spencer and Corey Anton, was impressed by the scope of topics and what students could learn from attending the Teach-In. “There’s just so much information that you can get,” said Bahl, “The variety and specification of some of the topics and the conversations surrounding each topic are so important to our society.”

It is common for professors to suggest or even require their students to attend the Teach-In every year, which is a great learn-

MOVING ONLINE: While GVSU’s Teach-In has a history of filling its campuses with sessions, this year’s affair was shifted entirely online and held via Zoom. COURTESY | VALERIE WOJCIECHOWSKI

ing opportunity for students who may not have attended on their own power. The event runs all day (9am - 9pm) so students with any schedule can make it to at least part of a presentation. Unlike years past, students could leave and join multiple events per time slot thanks to the online format.

Professor Spencer is in his first year teaching Communication Studies at GVSU. For Spencer’s first experience with the Teach-In,

Business Manager RACHEL MCDOWELL

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Asst. Business Manager DAYTON HAMMON

GV’s Fall Science Update conference seeks to strengthen local education

BY ZSOLT PALMER NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

At the Lanthorn, we strive to bring you the most accurate news possible. If we make a mistake, we want to make it right. If you find any errors in fact in the Lanthorn, let us know by calling 616-331-2464 or by emailing editorial@lanthorn.com.

The Grand Valley Lanthorn is published weekly by Grand Valley State University students 31 times a year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the Grand Valley Community. For additional copies, at $1 each, please contact our business offices.

The Lanthorn is published on recycled paper and is printed with soy bean ink. This means that our newspaper is entirely compostable. Help us do our part to be kind to the environment by recycling or composting this newspaper after you enjoy reading it.

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he loved the event’s networking and communication potential and was grateful for the experience of meeting new students.

“It was a great event to meet new people and get connected with people I never would have been acquainted with otherwise,” said Spencer, “I’m really glad I got to participate.”

EDUCATING EDUCATORS: The Fall Science Update conference is a resource for regional educators of all kinds. GVL | KATHERINE VASILE

This week, the annual Fall Science Update Conference met online, hosting a series of lectures as a resource for local educators and teachers. Grand Valley State University’s Regional Math and Science Center has hosted the event for the past 34 years with the goal of strengthening the local scientific community of West Michigan’s educators.

This year, there was a special emphasis on adapting classrooms to the new challenges raised by COVID-19.

The conference hosted experts from around West Michigan, hailing from organizations such as the Van Andel Institute for Education, the University of Michigan and the John Ball Zoo. Two of GVSU’s own professors gave presentations, with scientific themes such as geological time and the interconnected world of water.

Open to all educators from kindergarten

teachers to college professors, the presentations of the Fall Science Update Conference may have had specific topics, but retained a common theme of seeking to help educators strengthen their ability to talk science with their students. Educators attended to learn about new ways to communicate and to teach the STEM fields, as well as learning new tactics to help their teaching during a pandemic.

“It’s an opportunity to share cool things with teachers, like innovative ways to teach and innovative ways to share the sciences with their students,” said Peter Wampler, GVSU geology professor and one of the presenters at this year’s Fall Science Update Conference.

His presentation is about GVSU’s ‘Making Waves’ Initiative, where he hopes to provide teachers with the resources they need to help them teach more effectively about the wide world of water.

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A4 | OPINION GVL EDITORIAL CARTOON

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

By Lauryn Syrba

EDITORIAL

Now is the time to check on those around you

L

11/16/20

editorial@lanthorn.com

‘Tis the Season to Disappoint my Mother: Sharing holidays with your significant other

BY EMILY EATON SENIOR POLITICAL SCIENCE EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

It’s the time of year for me to start thinking about something I have never once considered, something I never dreamt I would have the privilege of wor-

rying about, something that I think will now perpetually stress me out forever: splitting holidays. I wanted a boyfriend and I wanted love, but I was so focused on getting it and keeping it that I forgot about the tough stuff that comes with it like disappointing my mother.

Last year, it wasn’t a question. Honestly, I hadn’t even formed the thought. We were only a few months into dating then, but it didn’t occur to me that roughly a year later, over a few drinks, he might ask me what my holiday plans were.

First of all, I cannot give up playing “who can find the first dog hair ” in Grandma’s Thanksgiving cooking. Then, I’ll be eating as much cookie dough as I can before my mom notices. Towards the end of Thanksgiving night, I’ll be

drinking so much wine that I’ll have seriously considered asking my aunt why her political views are just the worst.

All of that sounded perfect to me, but something was missing. It had never occurred to me that having a boyfriend that lives on the other side of the state complicates my dream of living out a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Holidays are intense for my boyfriend too. For Christmas, he dresses up in full Santa gear to hand out gifts to roughly 20 little cousins that look practically the same. I don’t think even the parents can tell them apart. Then he gets drunk, so he’s not going to budge either.

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Google One: A shift to anti-consumer storage consolidation

BY FABIAN SEGURA SENIOR FILM & VIDEO, MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EDITORIAL@LANTHORN.COM

My first article here at the Lanthorn lamented Google’s misadventures with Hangouts and not capitalizing on the market Zoom would take. This time,

however, Google is using its position as one of the biggest photo locker services with its Google Photos product and changing it from free to a paid service.

Google Photos was born out of Google’s acquisition with Picasa, a desktop app that would automatically tag and organize your photos, which even included an option for a web album that you could share to others.

In 2016, Google replaced that with its entirely-online Photos solution and offered it for free to all users, regardless of platform.

While the images were still compressed at the free tier, the quality was still strong and it made sharing albums of photos with others easy.

Especially for iOS users where the 5

GB of free iCloud storage was usually not enough to store all of your photos without upgrading, Google Photos was an easy recommendation to backup your images. Google even capitalized on this with marketing it as the place to back up your memories without having to deal with storage limitations on phones.

Of all the usefulness and convenience that Google Photos brought, on Nov. 11, Google announced things would be changing. The previous free tier would be removed and photos and videos would start counting against your total Google Drive storage.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

ate last week, an employee at Saginaw Valley State University died by suicide on campus. The university took a day of mourning and reflection following the tragedy, cancelling classes Friday and offering services to students who needed counseling.

The situation shook the family of the employee, their peers and the campus community, including students who had grown to work beside and learn under them.

This is not an easy time to be a Cardinal, and our hearts go out to those at SVSU that were affected by the tragedy.

The incident is still under investigation, but the SVSU campus community has been visibly emotional between people contributing to the employee’s memorial or discussing the events online. Conversations and petitions call for the university to issue more support for students in need of counseling.

This serves as a grim reminder that in our campus communities and beyond, grappling with mental health challenges is not easy, whether it be during a crisis or a daily struggle. Moments like this provide us with a moment of reflection on how we can be better friends, peers and family members to one another amid a difficult time for mental health across the board.

Winter in West Michigan begins a trend toward its

prime conditions for Seasonal Affective Disorder, which could reintroduce or worsen mental health challenges. It’s a difficult time of year, and compounded with the stress of the end of the semester and COVID-19 putting limitations on social activities, this is the perfect storm for campus community members to struggle.

While the time of year is difficult, these conversations are a critical part of tackling challenging mental health situations, as speaking out how you are feeling can be the best way to cope for some.

Being open with a family member, roommate or faculty member is often a crucial step in understanding your mental health needs.

It’s important to consider this on a spectrum. What is a small shift in a person’s normal mental health could be a significant disturbance to another person. When struggling with their mental health, it’s important to seek someone you feel comfortable talking to about next steps.

As a peer, be a supportive, understanding resource for whoever you care about.

This can be as simple as checking in on your immediate family during Thanksgiving break. Go beyond a curt “How are you?” and see if you can be a resource or connect them to someone.

LOG ON TO: www.lanthorn.com FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

GVL OPINION POLICY The goal of the Grand Valley Lanthorn’s opinion page is to act as a forum for public discussion, comment and criticism in the Grand Valley State University community. Student and columnist opinions published here do not necessarily reflect those of the paper as an entity.

The Lanthorn strives to be a safe vehicle for community discussion. With this in mind, the Lanthorn will not publish or entertain any forms of hate speech, but neither will it discriminate against any other views, opinions or beliefs. The content, information and views expressed are not approved by— nor do they necessarily represent those of—the university or its Board of Trustees, officers, faculty

or staff.

Letters to the editor should include the author’s full name, relevant title and a headshot, along with a valid email address and phone number for confirming the identity of the author. Letters should be approximately 500650 words in length, and they are not edited by the Lanthorn staff except to fix technical errors or to clarify. Reader submissions on the opinion page appear as space permits.

To make a submission, email editorial@lanthorn.com or drop your submission off in person at:

0051 KIRKHOF CENTER GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

NOVEMBER 16, 2019 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A5 | NEWS PANDEMIC

GV utilizes contact tracing to stop COVID-19

BY ELIZABETH SCHANZ NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

With the COVID-19 pandemic quite literally plaguing the world as we know it, there have been many efforts to contain the virus. Contact tracing has been a key player recently with these attempts. In this effort, people who have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 and could potentially be notified by officials and is asked to quarantine.

Contact tracing notifies close contacts are known to be the people who have been within six feet of an infected person for 15 minutes to 24 hours. These minutes do not need to be consecutive and are also constituted as exposure with or without a mask.

So there arises the question: but what if I don’t have COVID-19? What if I test negative? Doug Graham is a professor of biomedical science at Grand Valley State University with a background as a postdoctoral fellow in the Centers for Disease Control’s Division of Parasitic Diseases in parasitology, virology and epidemiology.

“You can’t test out of quarantine,” Graham said. “Given COVID’s 14-day incubation period, viral replication in

someone who’s been exposed might be detectable on Day 2 or Day 6 or Day 12. A negative test at any point on that 14-day continuum only means that there wasn’t a detectable virus on that day.”

Rising cases in Michigan a statement was issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) saying that restaurants conduct contact tracing within their business and customers. These guidelines stipulate that only name, time of service and phone number need to be provided, the information provided by the customers won’t be given to a health department unless requested, and cannot be given to law enforcement without a subpoena.

Businesses, like with masks, have the ability to refuse service to customers who do not follow these regulations.

This process has been implemented within the Grand Valley State University’s COVID-19 safety measures from the start of the year.

Carly O’Donohue, a freshman, said her experience with GVSU’s procedure was in line with what was happening around the state.

“My friend that tested positive that exposed me told me and then two days later

From the Editor We’re going digital until next semester, but coverage won’t stop Due to the ongoing pandemic and remote learning post-Thanksgiving, the Lanthorn will be moving to online-only coverage for the rest of the fall 2020 semester. Despite that, we will cap the semester with our traditional Semester in Review issue, which will be published online alongside the rest of our reporting.

Throughout the semester, our newsroom has gone through some shifts to continue to deliver news in a way that feels normal to readers, but requires significant adjustments from our team. But much like the rest of the world, we will be changing further and shifting to an entirety-virtual product in accordance with the University shift to remote learning after Thanksgiving in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

This will definitely be challenging for us. The newsroom is a collaborative space with rapid commenting, editing and product creation that is imperative on some physical presence. While we have utilized a hybrid model throughout the semester, we owe it to our team to keep each other safe from the virus and we owe it to our readers to continue to provide

news in as accessible of a way as possible.

To make it clear, this shift does not mean you will see a drop in our coverage, as we will continue to provide the quality content that you, our dear readers, truly deserve.

This virtual shift gives us a little bit more creative freedom, as we will be experimenting with new formats and different kinds of content, including more long-form stories, investigative work and the production of podcasts recapping the news from the previous week.

We’re also taking this time to reflect on our audience, and encourage a two-way conversation on how we can best serve the campus community. At this point in our history, rebuilding trust in the media is as important as ever.

Our emails are available on our website and we encourage dialogue to ensure our coverage is hitting the mark.

To keep up with news that is for students, by students, visit our website and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

We’ll see you in print next semester, GVSU.

STOP THE SPREAD: Contact tracing is allowing those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 to test or quarantine accordingly. Michigan and GVSU are ramping up their tracing. COURTESY | GVSU

I got a call from contact tracing notifying me about the next steps,” O’Donohue said. “She asked me if I had any symptoms, if I planned on isolating myself on campus or if I was going to go home, and letting me know I had to take a daily survey about my quarantine.”

O’Donohue said although the school offered her many resources throughout her quarantine such as food, a new place to stay, and other wellness updates, she decided to go through the quarantine from home. She believes that the tracing was done accurately and quickly based on her experience.

There can be a tangled web of connections of individuals within contract tracing that leaves the question of whether or not certain individuals are subject to quarantine.

“As much as possible, (the exposed) person

should limit their proximity to others, including roommates,” Graham said. “The roommates on the other hand (a.k.a. contacts of a contact), are not subject to quarantine. If the first person starts to show symptoms and later tests positive (i.e. becomes a case), then the roommates will likely need to quarantine.”

In order to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19 it is important to follow the guidelines set in place if you are called for contact tracing. If you have been exposed, filling it out on your self-assessment will lead to resources from the school and the next steps.

Similarly, if you test positive you can report it on your self-assessment or call the GVSU COVID-19 hotline at (833) 734-0020 to start the tracing processes.

A6&7 | NEWS

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

GV approves 2020-21 budget, various departments see changes

BY TREVOR HUBERT NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

As a tumultuous 2020 school year continues to throw new challenges and students and universities across the country, Grand Valley State University has answered the question that every school has had to ask themselves this year: how do we balance a multi-million dollar budget, especially amid the pandemic?

The Board of Trustees approved the proposed 2020-21 budget Nov. 6, and it did not come without a fair share of changes compared to years prior. A decrease in enrollment, the pandemic and uncertainty around funding from the state of Michigan has led the university to make cuts in various departments, while other areas have

gotten funding increases.

Although some of the cuts look like the results of major losses by the university on the surface, Greg Sanial, GVSU’s Vice President for Finance and Administration, said that the decisions go much deeper.

The situation is not as dire as it would seem at first glance for some departments, who had say in how their specific budgets would shift, he said.\ “We looked across all the divisions as a senior leadership team to identify kind of a strategic approach, and then within each division, individually, like Academic and Student Affairs, finance and administration, places like that,” Sanial said. “They then have their own internal processes. So within Academic and Student Affairs, they identified through their internal processes with

their deans how they would identify opportunities through consolidation, streamlining processes and things like that to identify areas where they can identify savings”.

Looking at each educational department at GVSU, the budget shows cuts of $6 million (6.7% decrease) and $2 million (17.4% decrease) for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Education, respectively. Even during the pandemic, GVSU seems to be doubling down on their commitment to growing their presence in downtown Grand Rapids, as the health and business colleges saw only minimal decreases to their budgets, as well as a nearly $1 million increase in the budget for the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing.

Sanial also noted that there are many

factors that play into budgeting GVSU’s different colleges. For example, current college enrollment and trends determine a fair portion of funding.

One of the major financial changes has come from the distribution of the school’s contingency fund, which serves as a flexible account for GVSU that serves as a countermeasure for unpredictable changes in structured budgets. The flexibility of the fund allows the university to set aside money for unforeseen circumstances, adjusting for unpredictable losses.

With such turbulence this year and financial circumstances that force smarter budgeting, the unallocated portion of the fund has shrunk to $1.8 million from last year’s $5.4 million. The total fund, which includes contingencies for state appropri-

Division Budgets (excluding Academic & Student Affairs)

ations ($7.4 million) and COVID-19 disruptions ($5.7 million) adds up to $15 million in flexible spending.

“As we built the budget this year, because of COVID-19, we had contingencies where we’ve got a lot of uncertainty in the budget – we’ve got a contingency in there for winter enrollment, we have an estimate for that,” Sanial said. “We don’t want to have to do a mid-year adjustment if we miss. We also have a contingency in there for the state appropriation.”

The state has since held the line in appropriations so far, but Sanial noted that with changing circumstances, that money is never guaranteed. He also went on to note that the CARES Act funding that GVSU received from the state only serves as a temporary safeguard, and that the school will need to

be diligent in balancing the budget for the next two to five years based on what kind of state funding is provided to them.

The Information Technology department also got a budget boost, but Sanial said that the raise is part of a long-term plan and not a part of combatting the challenges of virtual learning.

“This investment is part of a much longer-term strategy to enhance Grand Valley’s overall IT posture,” Sanial said. “We have a new vice president for information technology. He’s world-class, bringing in a new look, a new direction. When you think about the president and her initiatives to her adult and continuing education, the IT is such a big part of delivering that, and we really need as a university to mature our IT systems and our overall IT plan”.

Other areas that saw cuts were Development and Alumni Relations, the Inclusion and Equity Division and the University Relations Division, with WGVU taking the brunt of the blow with a $300,000 budget cut.

Looking towards the future, Vice President Sanial believes that the university will be in good shape for the near future, even with all of the challenges that the school has faced in the last year.

The current 2020-21 budget is scheduled to move forward as planned, but midyear changes are always possible, especially depending on factors such as enrollment or new developments in GVSU’s COVID-19 plan. Sanial mentioned that a major goal for winter and fall 2021 is to get professors back to their normal schedules, as GVSU has had to bring in more adjunct faculty

and have professors teach more classes to compensate for smaller class sizes.

“I think the budget that we developed was a good blend of both structural changes to reflect the changing demographic in the state of Michigan, and some temporary reductions to reflect the significant disruption to COVID-19,” Sanial said. “I think we’re well-positioned as a university financially to weather the COVID storm for the next one to two years. I think we’re in a good spot. I think some of the president’s new initiatives like for new learners, like Leeds are really starting to bear fruit.

We’ve got an aggressive Vice President Truss, a strategic enrollment management plan. I’m very optimistic about those areas.

And I think that the budget that we have this year is a good balance.”

Academic & Student Affairs Division Budget 2019-2020

2020-2021

2019-2020

2020-2021

NOTE: The 2020-21 budget includes additional sections of contingency spending (like COVID-19 disruption and state allocations) that may not be accurately represented in a direct comparison. GVL | NICK MORAN

BIGGEST OF THE BUNCH: This year’s approved budget resulted in a $12 million drop in the Academic and Student Affairs Division, the largest division proportionately, which has sub-sections for each college at Grand Valley State University. Standout dips included the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Education, while colleges like the College of Business stayed consistent. GVL | NICK MORAN

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLNEWS

A8 | NEWS ELECTION

2020 election shows unprecedented voter turnout in Michigan

BY KYLIE ELWELL KELWELL@LANTHORN.COM

With the 2020 election being one of the most important elections for the United States in recent years, Michigan voters showed up at poll locations, sent in absentee ballots and exercised their voting rights.

The state of Michigan received more than 5.5 million ballots — including over 3 million absentee ballots, making the turn out for the election a historic event for the state.

Michigan’s 2020 voter turnout was so significant that it beat out the previous record from the 2008 election when around 5 million people voted. In total, 82 out of the 83 counties in Michigan reported votes for the election on Nov. 3, 2020. In many counties around the state, there are statistics showing that there was a significant increase in voters this election compared to the last.

“During the March presidential primary, about 40% of the ballots cast in Ottawa County were absentee,” said Steven Daitch, Elections Coordinator of Ottawa County.

“For this election, that figure is closer to 60%.”

Michigan received the majority of their ballots from absentee voters dropping them

in drop boxes around their cities and mailing them into their county clerk. The current pandemic had a definite impact on this election, but it is hard for counties to tell just how much of an impact it actually had against people choosing to vote or not vote, even with the option of an absentee ballot.

“This is by far the highest number of absentee ballots ever cast in Michigan,” Daitch said. “This is partially a result of Proposal 18-3 in 2018 that allowed voters in Michigan to vote absentee without providing a reason.

It’s hard to tell how much of an impact the pandemic had on our absentee numbers, but I think it’s safe to assume that it greatly increased the interest in voting absentee.”

Biden was named the winner of Michigan by late evening on Nov. 4 despite there still being some uncounted votes. The majority of these votes came from absentee ballots and were expected to aid Biden’s lead even more.

All of the Ottawa County precincts were reported by the early morning on Nov. 4.

Some counties of Michigan that stuck out from the others with outlier votes were Wayne, which had 85.7% of precincts fully reporting. Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, and Kent county all had 100% of precincts fully reporting. Kent County had a 72.25%

BALLOTS: Michigan voters came to ballot boxes in record-setting droves. In Ottawa County, nearly 77% of registered voters cast their ballots, with 59% absentee. COURTESY | THE OAKLAND PRESS

turnout, with 362,074 total voters out of the 501,117 registered voters the county has.

Daitch said Ottawa County had 169,405 ballots cast in this election. Of those, 100,078 (59%) were cast absentee, and the county had

a total voter turnout of 76.76%, with 221,421 total registered voters.

For more information regarding voting and the election in Ottawa and Kent County, you can visit their respective websites.

POLICE

GVPD, Facility Services highlight fire safety, prevention

BY ADAM TROMBLEY NEWS@LANTHORN.COM

Throughout any given school year, the Grand Valley State University Police Department (GVPD) will see a wide variety of incidents reported around GVSU’s community. This year, however, it seems like there are more fire alarms going off than ever before.

While there is no indication as to why there are more fire alarms going off compared to usual, the belief is that a lot of them have to do with students cooking around

campus in the living centers.

“It does appear that we are seeing a few more come in related to cooking, but I honestly couldn’t say if it is for sure more than what we have seen in the past,” said GVSU facilities manager Adam Tate. “Generally, most of those that come through it would be they left popcorn in too long or forget to put the water in the easy-mac and it creates just enough smoke to trigger the smoke detector in that particular room.”

As a facility manager, Tate acts as the liaison between the housing departments and Facility Services. He often monitors

RESPONSIBLY: It seems like fire alarms are blaring more than usual on campus this school year.

GVPD and Facility Services are telling students to be mindful of things like cooking. GVL | ARCHIVES

the alarms that come in and he looks to see if the alarms have happened in a room or building multiple times. Even though there are many alarms coming in this year, they are almost always no big fires that cause substantial damage.

“We’ve had a couple of fire events that have occurred where there have been thousands of dollars in damage but honestly, it’s overall been pretty minimal when you think of how many residents we have on campus,” said Tate.

The only fire reported on campus this year left more water damage than the fire did. When multiple alarms go off in rooms or in a common area in living centers, that is when the fire department is called. It is rare they have to do a lot when they get to campus, however.

GVPD Capt. Jeffrey Stoll said maybe that one in 10 times, the fire department would start coming to campus, and there is an even less chance that they have to actually do something when they arrive.

The GVPD’s community officers usually have two fire drills per year for campus residents and there is one health and safety

check that occurs in dorm rooms each semester that is done by housing staff.

Tate credits the students for being safe, but also credits the system they have in place to catch alarms and respond to them if needed. He does, however, have some tips and ideas to help keep students safe and following the rules.

“Probably the most important things are making sure that you don’t walk away from cooking,” Tate said. “Even if you’re just putting popcorn in the microwave or something it is so important to continue to be there. Don’t think that you can walk away or go in the other room while the popcorn is cooking. Be there so you can catch if you start to see it start to burn and that kind of thing. A lot of that does occur if people aren’t paying attention or just walk away.”

Stoll says the goal of the GVPD when they respond to these alarms is to make sure that the alarm is clear and that there is no further danger present in the room or area.

While it does seem like there are more alarms coming in than usual, Tate and Stoll hope to keep spreading the word on prevention and safety.

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLARTS

ARTS AT A GLANCE JARIAH HIGGINS PERFORMS AT CAB COFFEEHOUSE CONCERT

It’s that time of year when students need a change of scenery from their usual study spot. On Monday, Nov. 16, the GVSU Campus Activity Board (CAB) invites students to Coffeehouse Study and Paint Night. Students are encouraged to bring their homework and enjoy the chill coffee house atmosphere. The event will include free food, live music and painting from 8-10 p.m. in the Grand River Room.

Jariah Higgins will be the artist performing live at the event. While he performs at venues and universities around the country, Higgins is a singer-songwriter based in Tampa, Florida.

In his performances, Higgins is known to perform a combination of beatboxing, soulful vocals and looping harmonies. His performance will be at the center of the Coffeehouse Study and Paint Night, entertaining the audience and providing music that will help them relax.

STUDENTS ATTEND WATCH PARTY FOR JEFF SCHEEN’S COMEDY LIVESTREAM CAB provided virtual and in-person entertainment for students who like to laugh.

On Thursday, Nov. 12, stand-up comedian Jeff Scheen streamed a set for GVSU students.

CAB threw a watch party in Kirkhof Center on GVSU’s Allendale campus.

Students were given the option of watching the streamed show on campus with their peers, but they could also attend the watch party virtually. At the in-person event, CAB provided candy and donuts.

Scheen is based in Chicago, Illinois, but this is not his first time connecting with the West Michigan area. Among the multiple comedy festivals he has participated in, Scheen has performed at LaughFest in Grand Rapids. He has also been featured on the FOX series “Laughs.”

THE GRAND RAPIDS BALLET PERFORMS BUSINESS AS (UN)USUAL Ballet continues to entertain the Grand Rapids community, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Grand Rapids Ballet performed its usual world-class ballet, but in an unusual way. Individual virtual tickets were sold on the Grand Rapids Ballet website and viewers were asked to purchase one ticket per person watching the virtual performance.

In addition to Business as (un)Usual, the ballet’s 2020-21 season includes other virtual programs such as The Nutcracker experience and Collective Force. Business as (un)Usual will run Nov. 13-15.

The program included world premieres by Princess Grace Award Winner and Beyonce choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie, Artistic Director James Sofranko and Company dancer Yuka Oba-Muschiana. Christopher Stowell’s pas de deux “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” that was postponed from the 2019-20 season will also be included in the program along with works by Resident Choreographer Penny Sauders and Company Dancers Gretchen Steimle and Matthew Wenckowski.

A9 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITING

The Student Reading Series provides a safe place for creativity

BY ALLISON RAFFERTY ARAFFERTY@LANTHORN.COM

The Student Reading Series is a series of events in which students have the opportunity to read some of their writing pieces in a safe and open environment.

The event series is entirely organized, planned and publicized by Grand Valley State University students. The group hosts monthly events where students can choose to read their work aloud free of judgment or simply listen to the work of their peers.

The Student Reading Series hosted their most recent event on Thursday, Nov. 12. Due to COVID-19, the event was held via Zoom and lasted from 7-8 p.m.

From poetry to short stories to non-fiction, students in attendance get to hear the best work from their peers so long as the piece falls under the broad literary genre.

The series is sponsored by the Writing Department to give writing majors and other creative writing students a chance to share their work and practice public reading.

Student co-creator Hannah Kelly said that The Student Reading Series is “a great environment to try out new pieces and network with other student writers as it is a casual, supportive space.”

During these events, students are encouraged, but not obliged to read some of their work.Student co-creator Amanda Pszczol-

SHARING WITH A SMILE: Students share their writing over Zoom during The Student Reading Series. The event allows students from any major to share their work. GVL | JONATHAN LANTIEGNE

kowski said that even though it is a professional reading, “we try to create an environment that’s super open and inviting. You can come planning not to read and choose to do so after you hear your peers share their work.

We don’t expect anyone to be a professional at reading either, since this is some people’s first opportunity to read in front of others.”

The Student Reading Series events typically have about 10 attendees each time, with the ex-

act number fluctuating from month to month.

The casual environment allows those in attendance to take their time to decide whether or not they would like to share their work with the group. Student co-creators have the opportunity to share their work as well.

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LAKER EFFECT

STAGE provides comic relief with last-minute production CHAVALA YMKER ARTS@LANTHORN.COM

As a student-run theatre club, STAGE didn’t think they’d be able to host a show this semester. But when Student Life reached out a few weeks ago asking if they could put together an in-person show, they jumped at the opportunity.

“YIKES! 2020” was held last Friday and

YIKES!: STAGE performed a series of skits for their very first performance. COURTESY | GVSU

Saturday in the Cook-Dewitt Center. The show was also streamed through STAGE’s Twitch account. Each of the four comic skits were written by alumni or authors no longer a part of the club, but current students ran every other part of the show.

Typically, STAGE puts on three to four shows a year, one of which is a full-length one hour show. The first show of the year has always involved a version of YIKES. This production followed a skit model, which vice president Matthew Lombardi said allowed the preparation to go smoother.

“The Eboard picked scripts to be short and easier to memorize and put together in three and a half weeks,” said Lombardi.

In order to put together a good show in such a short time STAGE president, Kaitlynn Richardson said they selected scripts from past productions. These included a skit that didn’t get to be performed after the shutdown in March.

Lombardi, who directed a skit, said that the show felt like a fairly normal production.

“Not a lot has changed, other than making sure during blocking they stay 6 feet apart and following social distancing

guidelines,” said Lombardi.

He noted that some roles had to be double cast because of the lack of actors auditioning.

Richardson was a last-minute addition to the cast, having to learn her lines in a day.

Executive technician Nate Vedders looked forward to putting on a show in the Cook-Dewitt Center for the first time. Normally, the club uses Area 51 in the Kirkhof Center but needed a larger space in order to follow social distancing guidelines.

“I’m excited to be using a more professional space,” said Vedders.

When not putting on production last minute, the club has been spending time with different forms of storytelling, like creating Dungeons and Dragons campaigns.

“Our unofficial slogan this year has been ‘STAGE: we have fun here,’” said Richardson. “This year is hard for a lot of reasons, and I’m glad we can keep something at least at a minimum of normal.”

In the end, the club wants to share the laughter they get from being together.

“We want to do what we do best, bring smiles and capitalize on stupid humor,” said Richardson.

A10 | LAKER LIFE LAKER LIFE BRIEFS

ENVIRONMENT

STUDENTS LEAD CHARITY AT THE COOK CARILLON TOWER

BY YSABELA GOLDEN LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week, Nov. 18-20, booths will be set up under the Cook Carillon Tower selling stickers and buttons with designs relating to current social and sociopolitical issues. All proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to the For The Gworls (FTG) fund.

FTG is a collective that raises housing and medical funds for Black trans people. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to these services becoming even more difficult to secure, and FTG is looking to make up the difference.

This campus fundraiser, which will last from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is being hosted by the GVSU Young Democratic Socialists of America. Those looking for more information about the event can contact the GVSU YDSA through their page on Laker Link or their email, gvsuydsa@gmail.com.

VIRTUAL SPEED FRIENDING CONNECTS FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS COVID-19 has made this fall semester a difficult time to make new friends, especially those who like friends who follow distanced national health guidelines during a global pandemic. First year or transfer students might be interested in joining Grand Valley State University’s “Virtual Speed Friending” event on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

From 7-8 p.m., the Residence Housing Association and Campus Activities Board are teaming up to present a casual night of games and conversation over Zoom. Those interested in the event can RSVP on Laker Link at gvsu.campuslabs. com/engage.

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLLAKERLIFE

Species Stronghold: Reptile conservation in Michigan When people discuss saving species from the danger of extinction, it’s often the endearing animals that come to mind: cute pandas, powerful tigers, hilarious penguins. But the truth is that many of the species disappearing from the ecosystems they’re needed in aren’t endearing to humans at all. In fact, some of them are disappearing specifically because humans didn’t want them around.

Such is the case for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. The species is listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, a status that indicates it will likely become endangered in the foreseeable future.

Like many other species native to the Midwest, the draining of wetlands for the sake of human construction and expansion has not been kind to their population numbers.

Unlike other species, however, many of the states in which they live had active bounties out for rattlesnakes before the animals came under protection. As the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes in their profile for the Eastern Massasauga, “people seem to have an innate fear of snakes [...] Massasaugas are often killed when they show up near homes or businesses, and people may go out of their way to kill or even eliminate them.”

Despite humanity’s natural aversion to venomous snakes, many are working to preserve their spot in the Midwestern ecosystem. One such person is Eric McCluskey, a postdoctoral fellow at Grand Valley State University’s Department of Biology. McCluskey has been studying the Eastern Massa-

SAVING SPECIES: Grand Valley State University biology postdoctoral fellow Eric McCluskey is working to save reptile species that are trending toward endangerment. COURTESY | ERIC MCCLUSKEY

sauga’s habitats and life histories in order to better inform conservation efforts, a project that has had him working alongside the USFWS and many other wildlife preservation organizations.

As a conservation biologist, it’s been very rewarding interacting with the people who are putting conservation research into practice,” said McCluskey.

McCluskey presented his research on the Eastern Massasauga on Friday, Nov. 13 as a part of the AWRI Seminar Series, hosted virtually over Zoom by GVSU’s Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute.

“My journey with the Massasauga started in Northeast Ohio, while I was working on my dissertation,” McCluskey said. “After two years of surveying, I had only discovered a single population. The current landscape is much more forested than it was historically — which is problematic for a species that requires open canopy grasslands to survive.

According to McCluskey, the Massasauga’s position is similarly dire in other Midwestern states like Illinois and Pennsylvania.

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RESOURCE

CLAS hosts first Virtual Majors Fair

BY AUTUMN PITCHURE LAKERLIFE@LANTHORN.COM

HAUENSTEIN CENTER DISCUSSES AMERICA’S “NEW NORMAL” As the second wave of COVID-19 rages across the U.S. just in time for the holiday season, many find themselves wondering “when will our lives get back to normal?” On Thursday, Nov. 19, Grand Valley’s Hauenstein Center is collaborating with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum to gather a panel of West Michigan leaders to discuss these recent shifts in our economy and society.

The event will last from 7-9 p.m., and will be hosted virtually over Zoom.

Those interested in attending the panel discussion can RSVP on the Hauenstein Center’s website at www.gvsu.edu/hc.

MAJOR DECISION: Typically an in-person event, CLAS hosted its annual Majors Fair online.

COURTESY | CLAS ACADEMIC ADVISING CENTER

Though college alumni often move considerable distances away from their alma mater, it’s not unusual for them to want to keep a connection to where they learned their craft or discipline. Online events have made it easier to connect with their fellow alumni than ever before, no matter how far the distance their vocation has taken them.

This year, 50 alumni assisted undergraduates by sharing their experiences at Grand Valley State University’s Virtual Majors Fair. More alumni than usual were able to help with directing students on the right path to a successful future in a major they love and enjoy.

“Students were able to meet with faculty and alumni who have experience and knowledge with the particular major they are interested in,” said Jason Prowant, Advisor at the CLAS Academic Advising Center.

“It’s the perfect opportunity for students to explore major choices and options.”

The Virtual Majors Fair was held online

Thursday Nov. 12, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

About 105 students attended the fair to see an average of three and a half prospected majors they were interested in.

“It was nice to meet a new advisor in the CLAS Advising Center and have her there while we shared information about our major to visiting students,” said Valerie Peterson, Professor of Communication Studies.

Students registered online, where they had the flexibility of choosing who they wanted to meet with and at what time. On the day of the fair, students that registered received a link that led them to a Zoom call.

They were still able to get that individual face to face interaction, even though they were online.

“It gives students a place, even though it’s virtual, to explore as many majors as they can fit into three hours,” Prowant said. “It really gives them an opportunity to look at a bunch of different options at one time period.”

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A11 | SPORTS

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

QUICK HITS GV FOOTBALL PLAYER FINALIST FOR NATIONAL AWARD

Senior linebacker Tyler Bradfield has been selected as a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the Academic Heisman. Bradfield is not only the lone representative for the GVSU Lakers, but he’s the only DII player to be named a finalist.

“It’s a humbling experience,” Bradfield said. “I’m very honored to be named a finalist for the award. I really wasn’t expecting anything like this. It’s really cool. I’m happy GVSU and the program is getting some recognition for what we do here. I’m thankful to be the one representing the Lakers.”

Bradfield has excelled in the classroom as he’s maintained a 3.99 GPA during his time as a Laker. He graduates this fall, so he’s focusing on his last six credits.

He plans on returning back to GVSU for graduate school, which also means he’ll once again be on the football field to play his final season. Since the GLIAC cancelled the fall 2020 sports season, every athlete was granted a waiver to extend their eligibility by a year. Athletes who graduate and come back for graduate school can play one final season.

ATHLETES TURN TO GV FOR NATIONAL RECRUITMENT DAY GVSU had a flurry of signings on National Recruitment Day this past week. Here’s a list of some of the new Lakers soon to join GVSU. Men’s Golf: Ryan Chafty (Kalamazoo, Michigan) and Braden Falk (Portage, Michigan) Men’s Basketball: Parker Day (Saginaw Heritage) Softball: Liberti Fair (Tecumseh, Michigan), Morgan Spicer (Valparaiso, Indiana), and Kelsey Komorous (Farmington Hills, Michigan) Women’s Lacrosse: Elizabeth Bernard (Elmhurst, Illinois – York HS), Chloe Dunham (Rockford, Michigan – Rockford HS), Brooke Wathen (Louisville, Kentucky – Kentucky Country Day School/duPont Manual HS), Isabella DeRegis (Syracuse, New York – Christian Brothers HS), Sema Hasanof (Lake Zurich, Illinois – Lake Zurich HS), Karleigh Rothe (Dublin, Ohio – Dublin Scioto HS), Ashleigh Rothe (Dublin, Ohio – Dublin Scioto HS), Zoe Ziegler (Lansing, Michigan – Okemos HS), and Kaylyn Cater (Chanhassen, Minnesota – Chanhassen HS).

Volleyball: Sophie Plate (Gowen, Michigan - Greenville High School) Henly Sleight (Jackson, Michigan - Jackson Northwest High School), and Julia Blaney (Saline, Michigan - Saline High School) Women’s Basketball: Paige VanStee (Middleville, Michigan - Thornapple Kellogg HS), Abrie Cabana (Grass Lake, Michigan Grass Lake HS), Lexi Plitzuwelt (Vermillion South Dakota - Vermillion HS), Nicole Kamin (Escanaba, Michigan - Escanaba HS), Megan Crow (Gladstone, Michigan - Gladstone HS), Molly Anderson (Cadillac, Michigan - Cadillac HS), and Macy Bisballe (Houghton Lake, Michigan - Houghton Lake HS)

SOCCER

GV Soccer lands 10 signees on National Signing Day, prepares to defend 2019 national championship

BY KELLEN VOSS ASSOCIATE@LANTHORN.COM

Wednesday, Nov. 11, was a rather eventful day for the Grand Valley State soccer team as 10 talented incoming freshmen signed to join the Lakers and defend the squad’s 2019 national championship.

In the fall of 2021, GVSU will add forwards Claire Breault and Chandler Clark, midfielders Hannah Becker, Nina Ferraro, Ryann Fetty and Stephanie Sturgeon, defenders Karen Barry and Cierra Trudeau, and goalkeepers Allison Fredrick and Kendall Robertson.

While these young players have known for quite some time that they would be future Lakers, head coach Jeff Hosler was excited to see them get the appreciation they deserve on social media from family, friends and GVSU fans.

“I think it’s really cool that these kids get the opportunity to be recognized again,” Hosler said. “A lot goes into their playing careers, whether it’s through youth club and high school. In our sport, a lot of these girls have been set on coming to GVSU since their sophomore year of high school, so it’s a long time coming for them. These kids made the decision back then cause they are really excited about Grand Valley State and our soccer program.”

Much like a construction worker throwing on a hard hat and grabbing his lunch pail, Hosler feels that this class in particular is willing

SIGNEES IN STRIDE: GVSU Soccer scooped a swath of signees this year on National Signing Day. The recruits will help defend the 2019 national championship next fall. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

to put in the work every day to retain the program’s championship mentality.

“What’s really special about this class is I think this group understands that this is a day of celebration, knowing that the work is going to continue to get ready for next fall,” said Hosler.

Every recruit has gotten a chance to visit campus physically, and with most of them giving a verbal commitment to GVSU a few years back, Hosler made the distinction that the majority of these stu-

dent athletes are “pre-pandemic kids.”

Due to recruiting rules, COVID-19 restrictions and the standard summer break, these talented future Lakers won’t be able to practice with the team until next August, joining the current Lakers in their pursuit to defend their 2019 national championship.

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FOOTBALL

GV Football focuses on fundamentals, eyes on competition next semester ZACK GOODROW SPORTS@LANTHORN.COM

The fall 2020 football season at Grand Valley State University has been nothing but normal. After all sports competitions were cancelled in mid-March this year, teams have only had the opportunity to practice with one another. For the football team, this will be the end of their fourth week in pads.

“It’s awesome,” said head coach Matt Mitchell. “To come back out here after five weeks of strength and conditioning, it’s just awesome. We did some redzone stuff today and the kids just have so much

energy out there. Without competition for so long, we’ve been really spirited the past few weeks.”

As the end of November approaches, not many teams still practice in full pads this late in the year. Mitchell sees it as getting his team used to playing with each other and building cohesion.

“It’s a team sport,” Mitchell said. “If we get an opportunity to come onto the field and improve our craft, we should take advantage of it.

Whether you’re a senior linebacker or quarterback, you can always improve.”

It’s almost the perfect opportunity for this team to be practicing. They have a

completely new offense staff, led by new offensive coordinator Matt Vitzthum. That means the Lakers will be installing a new scheme, formations, terminology, motions and shifts on offense. It’s a valuable time for the team to learn their new offense.

The Lakers are also using this time to evaluate their roster. After last year, they lost three senior corners and have a new look secondary. While they may not have played any games this fall, this extraordinary amount of time practicing together before next year should pay dividends.

“I think we’re going to be really tight when we play games again,” Mitchell said. “We have a really nice locker room. We’ve been together now for so long. We’re not going to practice gameplans. Right now, we’re just working on our base scheme and fundamentals.”

After Thanksgiving break at GVSU, all fall sports will stop practicing as a team when classes resume. Mitchell is encouraging his players to go home and stay healthy given the COVID-19 pandemic.

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THE BIG RETURN: After a long semester of padded practice coming to a close, GVSU Football head coach Matt Mitchell said he’s optimistic next semester could bring competition. GVL | ARCHIVES

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NOVEMBER 16, 2020 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN @GVLSPORTS

A12 | SPORTS BASKETBALL

GV basketball teams’ schedules, recruits announced

BY HOLLY BIHLMAN HBIHLMAN@LANTHORN.COM

On Thursday Nov. 12 at 1 p.m., the GLIAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors released next years men’s and women’s basketball schedules. With the ongoing battle the schools have been enduring with COVID-19, the student athletes are more than ready to get back to their regular seasons.

Men’s basketball head coach Ric Wesley is excited to be back on the basketball court with his team, especially with some new recruits joining next season. It’s been a slow start to this season however, but the release of some sort of schedule is a good sign.

“It’s sort of moving along,” Wesley said.

“We did come out with a conference schedule, so that’s encouraging that we got a plan, but obviously it’s still very much up in the air and every day is a different day.”

With new hope in the future and motivation to work towards, the GLIAC basketball schedule’s release includes some highlights for GVSU students to look forward to as well.

GVSU’s basketball teams have five home games each to look forward to, playing a total of ten games next season before the GLIAC Championship tournament.

The student athletes have been working especially hard towards keeping themselves and others safe, while still trying to stay in shape, eat right and keep their grades up.

With all of the students on campus feeling the effects of Zoom fatigue at this point in the semester, keeping the faith in next year’s return to normal classes and campus life is more important than ever.

“Let’s hope it’s a momentary setback and not something that’s going to continue,” Wesley said. “Especially in the environment we’re in right now, it feels like we’re a long way’s away from next year.”

One of the highlights to look forward to as well is new recruit Parker Day from Saginaw Heritage. Day’s exceptional high school record and versatility on the court made him a hot commodity among many universities, but as of National Signing Day on Nov. 11, Day is committed to joining the Lakers.

The 6’7” forward is a four-year letter winner, earning defensive MVP his junior year and becoming team captain this year. With one honorable mention all-conference performer and one first team all-conference, Wesley said he and the rest of the men’s basketball team are thrilled to begin working with the all-star athlete next year.

The women’s basketball team also had a bundle of recruits joining GVSU. There will be seven new Lakers starting in 2021. This includes guards Paige VanStee from Thornapple Kellogg HS, Abrie Cabana from Grass Lake HS and Lexi Plitzuweit from Vermillion HS in South Dakota. The Lakers also recruited 6’3” center Megan Crow from Gladstone HS. To round out the recruits, the Lakers brought in point guard Molly Anderson from

SIGNING SUCCESS: Both of GVSU’s basketball teams signed a wave of new recruits on National Signing Day. The men signed one recruit and the women signed five. COURTESY | GVSU ATHLETICS

Cadillac HS, forward Macy Bisballe from Houghton Lake HS and forward Nicole Kamin from Escanaba HS. When 2021 arrives, the new recruits from both the men’s and women’s team will be ready to compete. As for this season, students and athletes must continue to stay on track for a healthy and healing winter semester in order to get back to normal campus life.

“Our athletes, and I know everybody has, but they’ve done a really good job of staying focused,” Wesley said. “Improvising, doing what they can when they can. I mean, it’s tough and it’s tough for normal students.

We’re all about togetherness and teamwork and all that, yet in this day and age, how do you create that team vibe without being together?”

aker Line aker Line

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